Railway switch



Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ABE DOUGHER'IY, OF WHITESBURG, KENTUCKY RAILWAY SWITCH Application filed July 19, 1930. Serial No. 469,171.

This invention relates to improvements in switch operating mechanisms which embodies among other characteristics means for yieldingly maintaining the several parts of I the switch in their respective positions .without binding.

Another of the principal objects of the invention contemplates the provision and arrangement of a floating support for the lock- 10 ing mechanism of the switch.

More specifically stated the locking mechanism forms part of the operating mechanism and yieldingly disposes the latter in eccentric working positions to obviate any possibility of the switch being accidentally displaced.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further consists of the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the present invention showing by full and dotted lines the respective positions of the operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character indicates generally a stationary support of substantially inverted U-shape formation and provided with attaching portions 11 laterally projecting from the ends thereof and secured to appropriate portions of rail ties in the manner suggested in Figure 2. A yoke or clevis 12, formed upon the end of one of the attaching portions 11, provides a pivot housing for the intermediate portion of a bell crank lever 13. Tongues 14, swingably or otherwise shiftably supported upon the rail ties in a manner to dispose the inclined or beveled faces 15 thereof in juxtaposition and in alignment with the adjacent surfaces of the balls of switch rails, are designed to be synchronously actuated through the provision and arrangement of a connecting arm 16. The latter is pivotally associated, as at 17, to one end of the bell crank lever 13.

An operating lever 18, pivotally mounted as at 19, at an eccentric point in its length and to one side of the horizontal portion of the support, is pivotally associated at its shorter end with a floating support 20 through the instrumentality of a pivoted link 21. An arm 22 is employed for the purpose of establishing pivotal connection at its ends between the shorter end of the operating lever and the remaining extremity of the bell crank lever 18. The floating support ispivotally mounted, as at 23, to one of the vertical legs of the stationary support 10 and slidably mounted upon the other and yieldingly and normally induced to occupy an elevated position through the employmentof a retractile spring 24:. The latter is provided With a means of adjustment 25 for regulating the degree of tension to be exercised upon the floating support and permanently located upon the horizontal portion of the stationary support 10.

Through the above arrangement, it is understood that the lever will be yieldingly induced to occupy either of the eccentric posi tions shown by full and dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings whereby the tongues 14 may be manipulated Without injury and binding between the several parts.

Although I have shown and described my invention for special application upon railway switch mechanisms, it is obviously understood that the operating mechanism may be employed to equal effect upon agricultural implements, brake mechanisms and the like.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is A switch throwing device comprising a stationary support having an operating lever pivotally and eccentrically mounted thereon, a floating support pivotally and slidably mounted upon the stationary support, spring means yieldingly urging the floating support to occupy an elevated position, a

pivoted link establishing eccentric pivotal 3 connection at its ends between the operating lever and floating support, an arm 0peratively associated with the lever at the connection of the pivoted link therewith, and a bell crank lever having connection with the switch and arm respectively.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature;

ABE DOUGHERTY. 

